Claude Code Tutorial: Complete Getting Started Guide (2026)
Learn Claude Code, Anthropic's official CLI for developers. Installation, essential commands, real-world use cases and comparison with Cursor and Copilot.
What is Claude Code?
Claude Code is Anthropic's official CLI for interacting with Claude directly from your terminal. Unlike web interfaces, Claude Code integrates natively into your development workflow: it reads your files, understands your codebase, and can edit code directly.
It's the tool that transforms Claude from a simple chatbot into a truly autonomous pair-programmer.
Installation & Setup
Installation takes 2 minutes:
- macOS / Linux:
npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code - Windows: available via WSL or natively
claude in any project directory. Claude Code automatically detects your stack (Next.js, Python, Go...) and adapts.
On first launch, you'll be prompted to sign in with your Anthropic account. API keys are managed automatically.
Essential Commands
Claude Code works conversationally. Describe what you want, and Claude acts:
- Explore code: "Explain the architecture of this project"
- Fix a bug: "The UserAuth.test.ts test is failing, fix it"
- Refactor: "Extract this logic into a reusable React hook"
- Generate code: "Create a POST /api/contacts endpoint with Zod validation"
Real-World Use Cases
Automated Code Review
Ask Claude to review your changes before a commit. It catches potential bugs, performance issues, and style inconsistencies.
Codebase Migration
Need to move from JavaScript to TypeScript? From class components to hooks? Claude Code can process dozens of files in a single session.
Documentation
Claude generates technical documentation from your code. Not copy-paste: real documentation that explains the why, not just the what.
Debugging
Describe the symptom ("the form stopped submitting since Friday's deploy"), and Claude traces the problem through files and proposes a fix.
Advanced Tips
- CLAUDE.md: create a
CLAUDE.mdfile at your project root to give Claude permanent context (conventions, stack, business rules) - Plan mode: for complex tasks, use
/planto have Claude structure its approach before acting - Hooks: configure pre/post hooks to automate checks (lint, tests) after each modification
- Sub-agents: Claude can delegate subtasks to specialized agents (explore, review, build)
Claude Code vs Cursor vs Copilot
| Criteria | Claude Code | Cursor | GitHub Copilot | |----------|-------------|--------|----------------| | Interface | CLI terminal | Full IDE | IDE extension | | Project context | Complete (reads entire repo) | Complete | Current file | | Autonomy | Very high (edits, tests, commits) | High | Medium | | Model | Claude (Anthropic) | Claude or GPT | GPT (OpenAI) | | Price | Included in Claude subscription | $20/month | $10/month | | Ideal for | Devs who live in the terminal | Devs who prefer an AI-first IDE | Quick inline completion |
Our recommendation: Claude Code is the natural choice if you already work in the terminal and want an assistant that understands your entire project, not just the open file. For developers who prefer a graphical environment, Cursor is an excellent alternative.
Conclusion
Claude Code changes how developers work. It's not a gimmick — it's a concrete productivity multiplier. At WithClaude, we use it daily to manage our own projects and those of our clients.
Want to learn how to integrate Claude Code into your team's workflow? Discover our Claude training or request a free AI audit.